Ashfield

Ashfield's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population reached nearly 120,000

In the 10 years leading up to the latest census, the population of Ashfield increased by 7.3%, from about 111,000 to 119,000.

The addition of about 8,100 people means this area's population increased at a similar rate to the overall population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Ashfield was home to, on average, 7.8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the East Midlands

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the East Midlands, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Ashfield

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Ashfield increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This industrial area had a slightly higher average age than the East Midlands and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 4,000 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 16% of people in Ashfield are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Ashfield by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Ashfield

The number of people in Ashfield that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 20,000 in 2001 to just over 40,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 18% to 34% of the local population.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the East Midlands (from 16% to 27%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Ashfield that described themselves as Christian decreased from just over 81,000 in 2001 to about 69,000 in 2011 (from 73% to 58%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation decreased from just over 9,700 to about 8,200 (from 8.7% to 6.8%).

About 430 people (0.2%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 190 in 2001 (0.4%).

There are many factors that can cause changes to the religious profile of an area, such as migration and varying fertility rates between religious groups. Changes may also be caused by differences in the way individuals choose to self-identify between censuses.

The population without a religion in Ashfield increased by 16 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East Midlands and Ashfield by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

Ashfield saw the East Midlands' third-largest rise in the proportion of single-parent households.

In 2011, just over one in nine (11%) households in Ashfield had a single parent, compared with 9.7% in 2001. The percentage with a married couple decreased from 41% to 35%.

Across the region, only Blaby (from 6.7% to 9.1%) and Melton (from 6.7% to 8.6%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of single-parent households.

Every local authority area across the East Midlands saw a rise in the proportion of single-parent households, as the regional average grew from 8.8% to 9.8%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Disability in Ashfield

The percentage of Ashfield residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 4.1% to 5.0% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The proportion who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Ashfield residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 3.4% in 2001 to 4.0% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was higher than across the East Midlands

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the East Midlands and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Ashfield that rented privately increased from 6.1% to 13% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in six (16%) households lived in social housing, compared with 19% in 2001. The percentage of Ashfield households that owned their home decreased from 73% to 69%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the East Midlands (from 8.5% in 2001 to 15% in 2011). Across England, the proportion increased from 9.9% to 17%.

Private renting in Ashfield increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Ashfield, the East Midlands and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

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